The flower recycling project has been running for over a year now. After initial training in the methods of production using recycled flowers, the widows have taken control of the project and are enthusiastically producing products including herbal gulal (colourful powders used for Holi celebrations).

Kumbh stalls, P.C. kumbh.gov.in

Gyptic Arts – manufacturer of wall murals and sculptures located in Chhatikara – has also received an order from the state government to produce 600-700 different types of artwork.

Many sadhus and saints from the ‘Vaishnav Akharas’ of Braj also took part in the first ‘shahi snan’ (one of the most auspicious days for getting the mercy of the confluence of India’s great and holy rivers).

Mahamandaleshwar Shrimahant Ramswarup Das Maharaj said that in addition to the the demand for construction of the Ayodhya Ram Temple, they will also moot the idea of permanent land acquisition for Vrindavan Kumbh Mela at the ‘Dharm Sansad’ which will be held on January 31 and February 01.

The next Vrindavan Kumbh will be held in 2022, on the banks of Yamuna.

In the first phase, 6 buses were sent on January 12, while 46 more will leave between January 31 and February 10. Alternative arrangements are being made for Moradabad, Dehradun and Bareilly routes that have been affected by the departure of the first batch.

Millions of pilgrims will attend the event over the course of approximately 48 days to bathe at the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarasvati rivers in Prayagraj. For the first time, the administration has decided to run shuttle buses within the tent city of Kumbh for visitor convenience.

Kumbh Mela, P.C. kumbh.gov.in

Recognized as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ by UNESCO last year, Kumbh Mela is the largest public gathering and collective act of faith.

It is held every three years in one of four places: Haridwar (Ganges), Ujjain (Kshipra), Nashik (Godavari), and Prayagraj (Sangam of Yamuna, Ganga and Saraswati rivers) by rotation. The Kumbh is held once in 12 years at each of the locations.

A special Kumbh fair is held in Vrindavan, on the banks of the Yamuna every 12 years, whenever the main Kumbh is at Haridwar. There are several lilas relating the Kumbh to Vrindavan. One popular belief is that while flying with the pitcher of amrit (nectar) obtained after ‘Samudra Manthan’, Garud Dev sat on the Kadamba tree at Kalidah.